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Letter from the Chair
Nearly one-hundred years since its completion, Chapin Hall is still one of the loveliest buildings on campus, with a visual aesthetic that’s impressive whether you’re seeing it for the first time or the fiftieth. It was not designed as a concert hall, and it’s unlikely the college planners ever envisioned performances by a 75-member Berkshire Symphony, Williams Percussion Ensemble with a stage full of equipment, Williams Jazz Ensemble, Symphonic Winds, and certainly not an Eph-Palooza concert with more than 100 students performing from all parts of the hall! Over the years we have adapted the space to suit our needs by creating a larger stage, removing rows of seats, bringing in acoustic shells, using the balconies creatively, and more. This season, however, there will be changes in the way we do things.
The wooden stage extension that has enabled our larger groups to perform in Chapin for over 15 years does not comply with current building code, and as a result we must use alternative venues for some of the larger groups. (Thank you to the ’62 Center and MASS MoCA for making this possible!) We hope this is a temporary measure, but as we go to press we cannot say for sure. The College is committed to making the necessary changes, but it is not yet clear how extensive they will be. So we encourage you to check the brochure carefully to be sure you know the venue for each event. You will also notice that this year’s brochure spans the entire year rather than one semester. Please check our website, concert line, and e-newsletters for any late changes that may be necessary.
There is one thing that has not changed! The quality and variety of our offerings will still be among the best you can find in the Berkshires! In these economically distressed times we recognize the need to do more with less while maintaining our commitment to provide valuable educational opportunities for our students and outstanding performances for the college community. We look forward to a great year and hope you will join us!
David Kechley
Music Chair
